ABSTRACT
Christmas past and the New Year (1916) come, I felt that it was time to make a new move. I called on Sir John Wallis, and talked over my problem with him. My colleague, Mr. S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, the Professor of Indian History, had been given rooms in an otherwise unoccupied bungalow, situated in an ill-cared for "compound," i.e. large garden, and the services of a peon; there I found him contentedly at work on records of old inscriptions, from which he was extracting new light on the history of old South Indian dynasties. The Syndicate of the University had offered me other rooms in the same building, I looked at them and did not like them. They also offered me a peon, I asked for a shorthand typist instead, and this was granted some time afterwards. The Director of Public Instruction, Mr. (Sir) Henry Stone, moreover, offered me the use of a room in The Old College, Nungumbaukum, which had ceased to be used as a college, and in which he had his offices. This I occupied till arrangements were made for me in the Senate House. Sir John Wallis listened very sympathetically and comprehendingly to all I had to say, and in reply to my final question, "What am I to do?" answered, "You have to make a success of your job." I thanked him very sincerely, for I understood rightly that he meant that if I made my own plans, he would help me as far as possible to carry them out. He further recommended me to talk over my plans with Mark Hunter, Professor of English in the Presidency College, and a very influential member of the Syndicate.
